Holding Assembly for Aesthetically Displaying Comestibles

ABSTRACT

A holding assembly for aesthetically displaying comestibles comprises a retaining structure and a positioning member. The retaining structure allows the user to firmly secure a comestible to the holding assembly. The retaining structure has two different embodiments: one embodiment for softer comestibles with a flat bottom, such as a cupcake, and another embodiment for more rigid comestibles with a round exterior, such as fruit. The first embodiment of the retaining structure is a platform with tines, and the second embodiment of the retaining structure is a hollow hemisphere with one tine. The positioning member is a long shaft that allows the user to position the comestible in a desired location. The top end of the positioning member is used to attached to the bottom of the retaining structure, and the bottom end of the positioning member is used to penetrate into a base in order to situate the holding assembly.

The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 61/413,691 filed on Nov. 15, 2010.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to an apparatus capable of holding a comestible in an aesthetically pleasing manner.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Traditional apparatuses used to hold a comestible in aesthetically pleasing manner would simply support the comestible from the bottom, and, thus, would be severely limited in the angles and positions that the comestible could be displayed in. These traditional apparatuses would also position multiple comestibles relatively close together without any appreciation for the aesthetic appeal of spatial distribution. Traditional apparatuses does not provide a user with the opportunity to be creative with the arrangement of their comestibles, and, rather, force a preformed arrangement that is created by either the designer or the manufacturer. The objective the present invention provides the user with a flexible means to arrange and position their comestibles in an aesthetically pleasing manner. The present invention is able to penetrate into a comestible, which firmly situates the comestible on the present invention, and allows the comestible to be displayed in a variety of angles and positions. The present invention uses a long shaft to extend the position of the comestible in any direction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention with the first embodiment of the retaining structure.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the present invention with the second embodiment of the retaining structure.

FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the first embodiment of the retaining structure.

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the first embodiment of the retaining structure.

FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view of second embodiment of the retaining structure.

FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of the second embodiment of the retaining structure.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the positioning member with an oblique cut as the penetration end.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the positioning member with a right cut as the penetration end.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the present invention with first embodiment of the retaining structure, which is penetrating into a cupcake.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the present invention with second embodiment of the retaining structure, which is penetrating into an orange.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a plurality of the present invention being positioned within a Styrofoam block.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a plurality of the present invention being positioned within a vase.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a plurality of the present invention being positioned within a preformed base with sockets.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a plurality of positioning members being shaped into a wrought structure with a base.

DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION

All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the present invention is a holding assembly for aesthetically displaying comestibles such as cupcakes and fruit. The holding assembly comprises a retaining structure 10 and a positioning member 20. The retaining structure 10 supports a comestible so that the comestible does not fall off the present invention. The retaining structure 10 is attached to the top of the positioning member 20, which allows the present invention to properly position the comestible in a aesthetic manner. In the preferred embodiment, the present invention would ideally have a length of five to eighteen inches.

The retaining structure 10 allows the present invention to hold a comestible in place by piercing the comestible and by supporting the comestible from the bottom. In the typical embodiment of the present invention, the retaining structure 10 comprises a platform 11, a plurality of openings 13, a plurality of supporting ribs 14, a plurality of insertion tines 15, and a collar 17. This embodiment of the retaining structure 10 is illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4, and 9. The platform 11 serves as a base for the other components of the retaining structure 10 to be connected together. The comestible rests on the platform 11 when the comestible is engaged by the retaining structure 10. The collar 17 is positioned normal to the bottom of the platform 11 and connects to the center of the platform 11. The collar 17 allows the positioning member 20 to engage to the retaining structure 10. The collar 17 is a rigid tube, which comprises an inner collar wall 18 and a plurality of fitting ribs 19. The inner collar wall 18 is located within the collar 17 and traverses the length of the collar 17, and each of the plurality of fitting ribs 19 is connected along the inner collar wall 18. The inner collar wall 18 and the plurality of fitting ribs 19 allow the collar 17 to capture and hold the positioning member 20 over a wide range of dimensional tolerances, which helps to reduce the manufacturing cost of the present invention.

The plurality of insertion tines 15 provide the retaining structure 10 with a means to penetrate the comestible and to firmly situated the comestible onto the platform 11. The plurality of insertion tines 15 is positioned around the center axis of the platform 11 and is positioned normal to the top of the platform 11. The plurality of insertion tines 15 is connected to the top of the platform 11. The configuration of the plurality of insertion tines 15 allows a user to easily grasp the positioning member 20 and to apply the proper force to penetrate the plurality of insertion tines 15 into the comestible. Each of the plurality of insertion tines 15 has a tine tip 16, which is used for the initial penetration of the comestible. The tine tip 16 is positioned on each of the plurality of insertion tines 15 opposite to the platform 11. The shape of the plurality of insertion tines 15 can be designed according to the type of comestible being displayed by the present invention. For example, the plurality of insertion tines 15 could be needle-shaped if the comestible is a piece of fruit. The plurality of insertion tines 15 can be modified in terms of number, shape, and size in order to provide the retaining structure 10 with optimum holding power for a particular kind of comestible. The plurality of supporting ribs 14 strengthens the configuration of the plurality of insertion tines 15 by being positioned underneath each of the plurality of insertion tines 15. The plurality of supporting ribs 14 are positioned radially around the collar 17 and is connected to both the bottom of the platform 11 and the collar 17. The retaining structure 10 needs the plurality of supporting ribs 14 to strengthen the configuration of the plurality of insertion tines 15 because the plurality of openings 13 traverse through the platform 11 and is adjacent to the plurality of insertion tines 15. The plurality of openings 13 is used as a means to eliminated unnecessary material and reduces the cost of the present invention.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the retaining structure 10 is designed to hold a comestible with a rounder shape, such as fruits and vegetables, in place, which can be seen in FIGS. 5, 6, and 10. The retaining structure 10 in this embodiment comprises a receptacle 12, a plurality of insertion tines 15, and a collar 17. The primary difference between this embodiment and the previous embodiment of the retaining structure 10 is the receptacle 12, which cups the bottom of the round comestible in order to the support the round comestible. The receptacle 12 would be most likely shaped as a hollow hemisphere so that the receptacle 12 could brace reasonable round comestibles with an appropriate diameter. The receptacle 12 could instead be a plurality of narrow fingers that are positioned to form a hemispherical shape, which would reduce the material cost of the present invention. The ideal range for the diameter of the hemispherical shape of the receptacle 12 would be between one to ten inches so that the present invention can accommodate round comestible as small as a cherry and as large as a cantaloupe. The collar 17 is positioned along the center axis of the receptacle 12 and is connected to the bottom of the receptacle 12. The plurality of insertion tines 15 is positioned to be parallel to the center axis of the receptacle 12 and is connected within the receptacle 12. This embodiment of the retaining structure 10 would most likely have only one insertion tine that is positioned along the center axis of the receptacle 12 because fruits and vegetables usually have enough structural integrity to be supported by only one insertion tine 12 penetrating into them. Also in this embodiment, a plurality of openings 13 could traverse through the receptacle 12 and, again, provides a means to reduce the material cost of the present invention. A plurality of supporting ribs 14 could be positioned below the receptacle 12 if this embodiment contains more than one insertion tine. Either embodiment of the retaining structure 10 can be constructed from any material that can be molded, stamped, or cast, but the most preferable kind of material is polypropylene or a general purpose styrene.

The positioning member 20 allows the present invention to situate the comestible in the proper area and is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. The positioning member 20 comprises a stem 21, a slit end 22, and a penetration end 23. The stem 21 is the body of the positioning member 20 and is used to position the retaining structure 10 in an area that is chosen by the user. The slit end 22 is located on one end of the stem 21, and the penetration end 23 is located on the other end of the stem 21. When the slit end 22 is inserted into the collar 17 so that the positioning member 20 is attached to the retaining structure 10, the slit end 22 is able to compress within the inner collar wall 18, which further increases the dimensional tolerances of the collar 17. The stem 21 can be hollow or solid and can have any shape cross section. The stem 21 could also have a variable cross section are along its length. The penetration end 23 is used to situate the positioning member 20 into a base. The penetration end 23 could be shaped with either a right angle cut, which would traverse into a precut hole located on the base, or with an oblique angle cut, which would traverse into a yielding material such as Styrofoam. The positioning member 20 can also be constructed of any material that can be molded, stamped or cast, but the positioning member 20 is most preferably made of polypropylene or a general purpose styrene.

The present invention can also include a base in addition to the retaining structure 10 and the positioning member 20, which are together known as a holding assembly. The base is used to situate a plurality of holding assemblies. The plurality of holding assemblies can be configured onto the base in a number of different aesthetic arrangements. In one aesthetic arrangement shown in FIG. 12, the base could be simply be a vase, and the plurality of the holding assemblies could be simply placed within the vase. In another aesthetic arrangement shown in FIG. 11, the base could be a Styrofoam block that is placed within a basket and is covered by wadded tissue or some kind of padding. The Styrofoam block is penetrated into by the positioning member 20 as a means to situate each of the plurality of holding assemblies on the Styrofoam block. In another aesthetic arrangement FIG. 13, the base is preformed chunk of material that consists of a plurality of receptacle sockets, which are positioned at different angles. The plurality of holding assemblies are inserted into the plurality of receptacle sockets, which position the plurality of holding assemblies in an aesthetically pleasing manner. The angle of each of the plurality of receptacle sockets are an integral part to the preformed base and can be varied. In another aesthetic arrangement shown in FIG. 14, a wrought structure is already connected to the positioning member 20 of each of the plurality of holding assemblies. The wrought structure has an insertion stem, which traverses into the base. The base and the wrought structure in each of the aesthetic arrangements can be constructed of any material that can be molded stamped or cast but is most preferably made of polypropylene or a general purpose styrene.

Experience has shown that, if the folded paper cup for a cupcake is not used, then the cupcake should be allowed to cool to room temperature. For added benefit, the cupcake should be placed in a refrigerator and cooled further to reduce the likelihood of the cupcake crumbling when installed on the present invention. It should be noted that recipes can be adjusted for best holding as well as the entire retaining structure 10.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 

1. A holding assembly for aesthetically displaying comestibles comprises, a retaining structure; a positioning member; said retaining structure comprises a platform, a plurality of openings, a plurality of supporting ribs, a plurality of insertion tines, and a collar; said positioning member comprises a stem, a slit end and a penetration end; each of said plurality of insertion tines comprises a tine tip; said collar comprises an inner collar wall and a plurality of fitting ribs; and said retaining structure being attached atop said positioning member.
 2. The holding assembly for aesthetically displaying comestibles as claimed in claim 1 comprises, said collar being centrally positioned to said platform; said collar being connected below to said platform; said plurality of insertion tines being concentrically positioned around said collar; said plurality of insertion tines being connected normal to said platform opposite of said collar; said tine tip being located on each of said plurality of tines opposite of said platform; and said plurality of openings traversing through said platform adjacent to said plurality of insertion tines.
 3. The holding assembly for aesthetically displaying comestibles as claimed in claim 2 comprises, said plurality of supporting ribs being radially positioned around said collar adjacent to each of said plurality of insertion tines; and said plurality of supporting ribs being connected to said platform adjacent to said collar.
 4. The holding assembly for aesthetically displaying comestibles as claimed in claim 2 comprises, said inner collar wall being concentrically positioned within said collar; and said plurality of fitting ribs being connected along said inner collar wall.
 5. The holding assembly for aesthetically displaying comestibles as claimed in claim 1 comprises, said slit end being positioned opposite of said penetration end on said stem; said slit end being inserted into said collar; said stem being encircled by said inner collar wall; and said plurality of fitting ribs being pressed against said stem.
 6. A holding assembly for aesthetically displaying comestibles comprises, a retaining structure; a positioning member; said retaining structure comprises a receptacle, a plurality of insertion tines, and a collar; said positioning member comprises a stem, a slit end and a penetration end; each of said plurality of insertion tines comprises a tine tip; said collar comprises an inner collar wall and a plurality of fitting ribs; and said retaining structure being attached atop said positioning member.
 7. The holding assembly for aesthetically displaying comestibles as claimed in claim 6 comprises, said collar being centrally positioned to said receptacle; said collar being connected below to said receptacle; said plurality of insertion tines being positioned parallel to said collar; said plurality of insertion tines being connected to said receptacle opposite of said collar; said tine tip being located on each of said plurality of tines opposite of said receptacle; and said plurality of openings traversing through said receptacle adjacent to said plurality of insertion tines.
 8. The holding assembly for aesthetically displaying comestibles as claimed in claim 7 comprises, said inner collar wall being concentrically positioned within said collar; and said plurality of fitting ribs being connected along said inner collar wall.
 9. The holding assembly for aesthetically displaying comestibles as claimed in claim 6 comprises, said slit end being positioned opposite of said penetration end on said stem; said slit end being inserted into said collar; said stem being encircled by said inner collar wall; and said plurality of fitting ribs being pressed against said stem.
 10. A holding assembly for aesthetically displaying comestibles comprises, a retaining structure; a positioning member; said retaining structure comprises a platform, a plurality of openings, a plurality of supporting ribs, a plurality of insertion tines, and a collar; said positioning member comprises a stem, a slit end and a penetration end; each of said plurality of insertion tines comprises a tine tip; said collar comprises an inner collar wall and a plurality of fitting ribs; said retaining structure being attached atop said positioning member; said collar being centrally positioned to said platform; said collar being connected below to said platform; said plurality of insertion tines being concentrically positioned around said collar; said plurality of insertion tines being connected normal to said platform opposite of said collar; said tine tip being located on each of said plurality of tines opposite of said platform; and said plurality of openings traversing through said platform adjacent to said plurality of insertion tines.
 11. The holding assembly for aesthetically displaying comestibles as claimed in claim 10 comprises, said plurality of supporting ribs being radially positioned around said collar adjacent to each of said plurality of insertion tines; said plurality of supporting ribs being connected to said platform adjacent to said collar; said inner collar wall being concentrically positioned within said collar; and said plurality of fitting ribs being connected along said inner collar wall.
 12. The holding assembly for aesthetically displaying comestibles as claimed in claim 10 comprises, said slit end being positioned opposite of said penetration end on said stem; said slit end being inserted into said collar; said stem being encircled by said inner collar wall; and said plurality of fitting ribs being pressed against said stem. 